The Podcast Engineering Show

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Mar. 18 thru Apr. 8, 2022 (see list below). Also, you can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email every day or a weekly roundup.

Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode:

1. Microphone Polar Patterns – A Complete Guide
2. 3 Plugins I Purchased but Rarely Use (Unfortunately) — Level Magic (Flux/Jünger Audio), Split EQ (Eventide), dear VR pro (Plugin Alliance)
3. DynaCaster Microphone from sE Electronics
4. Limiting a Bit Before Compressing
5. Bleeping Curse Words
6. Audio Normalization
7. Tips for Pitching Yourself To Be a Guest on Other Podcasts
8. I Love This: Morbid Podcast Mixes Their Ads a Bit Lower in Volume
9. Plugin Doctor, a Plugin Analyzer for VST and AU Plugins

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 9, 2024! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• Check out the PES YouTube channel
• I started a new Podcasting community on Nostr protocol -- you are welcome to join!
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find useful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want higher-paying clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

Listen to my conversation with Tom Pink - Head of Mix, Mastering and Sound Design at Noiser. We discuss sound design in podcast production including lots of helpful tips - basics, advanced, nuances, and lots more.

You're welcome to check out some of the shows Tom and his team are producing at Noiser.com.

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is June 27, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

I define and discuss the differences between normalization, compression and limiting. Also the usefulness of each and when to use them. And I play audio examples!

FYI, you can sign up to receive my Daily Goody posts in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.

Here are the plugins I referred to (by category):

Compressors: 

• Scheps Omni Channel — https://www.waves.com/plugins/scheps-omni-channel
• CLA-2A — https://www.waves.com/plugins/cla-2a-compressor-limiter
• CLA-76 — https://www.waves.com/plugins/cla-76-compressor-limiter
• Abbey Road RS124 — https://www.waves.com/plugins/abbey-road-rs124-compressor#introducing-abbey-road-rs124-compressor

Channel Strips: 

• Scheps Omni Channel — https://www.waves.com/plugins/scheps-omni-channel
• Focusrite SC — https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_console_focusrite_sc.html
• SSL E Channel — https://www.waves.com/plugins/ssl-e-channel —OR— https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_console_ssl_4000_e.html

Upward Compression: 

• MaxxVolume — https://www.waves.com/plugins/maxxvolume
• MV2 — https://www.waves.com/plugins/mv2
• Fabfilter Pro-MB — https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-mb-multiband-compressor-plug-in
• Neutron 3 — https://www.izotope.com/en/products/neutron.html
• Oxford Inflator — https://www.sonnox.com/plugin/oxford-inflator-v3

Vocal Riders: 

• Vocal Rider — https://www.waves.com/plugins/vocal-rider
• MAutoVolume — https://www.meldaproduction.com/MAutoVolume
• HoRNet AutoGain Pro MK2 — https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-autogain-pro-mk2/
• DynaRide2 — https://www.tbproaudio.de/products/dynaride
• GainRider3 — https://www.tbproaudio.de/products/gainrider
• Outlaw — https://www.waproduction.com/plugins/view/outlaw
• POWAIR — https://www.soundradix.com/products/powair/

Limiters: 

• Pro-L 2 — https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-l-2-limiter-plug-in
• Scheps Omni Channel — https://www.waves.com/plugins/scheps-omni-channel
• CLA-2A — https://www.waves.com/plugins/cla-2a-compressor-limiter
• Focusrite SC — https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_console_focusrite_sc.html
• SSL E Channel — https://www.waves.com/plugins/ssl-e-channel —OR— https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_console_ssl_4000_e.html
• Pro-MB — https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-mb-multiband-compressor-plug-in

Dual Stage Compressors: 

• Aquamarine 4 — https://www.acustica-audio.com/store/products/aquamarine
• Shadow Hills Class A Mastering Compressor — https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/shadow_hills_class_a_mastering_comp.html

Multiband Compression: (great for people who move on and off mic a lot)

• Pro-MB — https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-mb-multiband-compressor-plug-in
• C6 — https://www.waves.com/plugins/c6-multiband-compressor
• Neutron 3 — https://www.izotope.com/en/products/neutron.html
• Ozone 9 — https://www.izotope.com/en/products/ozone.html

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is April 4, 2023 and then June 27, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

I overview 10 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Feb. 14 thru Mar. 9, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.

Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode:

1. The Debate Over Editing Out Breaths vs. Leaving Breaths In
2. How To Handle Clients That Won’t Heed Your Advice To Improve Their Audio Quality
3. Using Pixels to Track Podcast Ad Stats?
   • Here's the article I mentioned
4. Reasons I Sometimes Use Volume Boost in My Podcast Player App
5. RØDE Broadcaster (Microphone)
6. What Equipment Do You Recommend for New Podcasters?
   • Here's the post I mentioned: An Inexpensive Podcasting Equipment Setup to Sound Great
7. Fabfilter Pro-DS, an Exceptional De-esser
8. When a Remote Guests’ Internet Fails and They Disconnect
9. Want Me to Dial-in Custom Settings for Your Voice? (EQ, Compression, Etc.)
10. Editing the Timing Between a Question and the Answer

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is April 4, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Jan. 19 thru Feb. 11, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.

Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode:

• Expecting a Plugin Preset to Do What the Name Says
• My Experience Opening and Operating a Brick and Mortar Podcast Studio for 3 Years – PES 230
• When Editing Out Silence To Increase Pacing, Be Sure To…
• Loudness Range of Final Episodes – What’s Good and What’s Bad?
• The “White Glove” Service: Engineering Client Recording Sessions Remotely
• Using Cable Labels to Reduce “Spaghetti” Confusion in Your Studio
• Best Sounding Microphone Emulation *For My Voice* Using My Sphere L22 Microphone
• Gain Rider Plugin: DynaRide2
• Should You Ask Remote Guests to Record Their Own Audio Locally?
• Best Recording Tip for Someone Who Speaks at a Soft, Low Volume
• [VIDEO] MaxxVolume Plugin for Podcast Production (Handy as Heck!)
• As I mentioned, here’s episode 225 where I used the Sphere L22 with the U47 emulation.

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, 
~Chris

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Dec.13, 2021 thru Jan.17, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.

Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode:

1. Putting the Finishing Touch on Your Podcast Audio Before Publishing
2. How Much Would You Like To Earn Producing Podcasts, $25k/year? $50k? $100k?
3. Corey Marie Green, Author of The Podcaster’s Audio Handbook – PES 228
4. Get Fuller Sound by Manipulating Harmonics
5. Do This Before New Years Day
6. Urgent Advice for Any Podcaster Using a Blue Yeti
7. Chris’s Goody Bag – PES 229
8. Do You Breakdown and Put Away Your Equipment After Recording, Or…?
9. Brainworx bx_console AMEK 9099
10. Please Don’t Ever Use Your Computers Built-in Microphone for Recording Podcasts
11. Riverside’s Noise Suppression Feature
12. VIDEO: CLA-2A Compressor/Limiter Plugin (Waves) for Podcast Production

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/
• My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

Returning guest Barry Gary shares so many excellent tips for producing podcasts for companies and organizations. Barry is the host of The Louisville Cycling Podcast. He also produces other podcasts including Medchat and Parenting With You. Also, here is Barry’s first appearance on this show.

Barry and I discussed many things including:

• Equipment: Shure SM7b, Cloudlifter, dbx 286s, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, Yamaha monitors
• Apps: Adobe Audition, Riverside
• Processing: Compression, EQ
• Show development for clients
• Internal podcasts for clients
• Workflow changes: Stopped going on-site to record, and now does most of his editing in Adobe Audition now.

NEWS: In case you missed it, I'm now publishing a YouTube video everyday here on the PES channel. Please consider subscribing.

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email a few times per week or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/)

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

Enjoy my chat with Zack Hanni, owner and audio engineer at Sounds Like Soma in Philadelphia. He produces podcasts as well as music. We discuss podcast audio production in depth as well as the business aspects of being a podcast producer. Also check out his TikTok and YouTube channels.

Also check out Zack's first appearance on this show. Ep. 40 HERE

In case you missed it, I'm now publishing a YouTube video everyday here on the PES channel. Consider subscribing.

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email a few times per week or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/)

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris

Today I’m going to discuss some mistakes I’ve made producing podcasts.

Microphone: In this episode I’m using my Electro-Voice RE320 microphone plugged into my Neve Portico II channel strip (using compression, EQ and a bit of saturation). The same microphone you see in my daily short videos here.

I mention a recent hiking experience I had where a guy who saw my shirt (which says Ask Me About My Podcast) and asked, "What's your podcast?" And then immediately added, "JUST KIDDING!” We all laughed and he didn’t ask again so I didn’t mention my podcast at all. HA

Mistakes I’ve Made Producing Podcasts:

• I published one of my client’s episodes with 30 seconds of silence at the beginning. The client alerted me and I fixed it immediately.
• During an online recording session, after a participant dropped off and then returned, I forgot to press record again in Squadcast, but of course I was recording a local backup which I ended up using (though it was a bit of a pain because all participants were mixed together in the backup recording). NOTE: Squadcast fixed this issue a long time ago.
• On an in-person recording session I forgot to hit record and realized it after about 5 minutes so we had to start the episode over again and sort of feign authentic enthusiasm when redoing the intro.
• I've mixed audio on my monitor speakers while mistakenly using the calibration profile for my headphones.
• Untold inaccuracies using processors too aggressively, or not aggressively enough — Compression, de-noise, de-plosive, EQ, etc.

Other Notes:

• If you ever have questions please reach out!
• You can sign up to receive Daily Goody’s in your email a few times per week or a weekly roundup. Sign up here.
• The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter)
• If you’d like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, “Btw, here’s a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful” with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/)

Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything,
~Chris